Archives: Shakti Talks
Shakti Talks
Let's accelerate the gender equality journey from classroom to the boardroom!
Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
Shakti Talks
Let's accelerate the gender equality journey from classroom to the boardroom!
Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
B.tech CSE CCVT, 4th Year
Neha secured an All India Rank 89 in TCS CodeVita 2020 among 185k participants. TCS CodeVita is the flagship coding event of TCS which promotes programming-as-a-sport culture globally. Not just a coding contest, it is also a career opportunity for final year students who are selected for job opportunities at TCS. Neha too, received a PPO from TCS.
“I imbibe to the motto that your goal may seem difficult but never stop practicing. I would like to thank my faculty mentors at UPES who guided me at every step and gave me a platform to achieve milestones,” she remarked while sharing her achievements with us.
Senior Deputy Collector, Jehanabad, Bihar
“My alma mater has been a major pillar of strength and confidence building. It has helped me inculcate the values and qualities expected of an administrator. UPES provided me with a conducive environment, an atmosphere to grow, learn, lead and become what I am today. For all aspirants and my present UPES fellows who wish to become an administrator, I would like to dedicate my favorite quote: Winners never quit and quitters never win.”
Margan is a former B.Tech student from the batch of 2009-2013 of Electronics Engineering.
M. Tech student, UPES
One of the top scholars of M. Tech batch, Sneha Mendiratta, did her internship with the esteemed Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO). It was the first step towards pursuing her dream of becoming an astronomer.
As a proud alumnus of UPES, Sneha remarks, “I grew professionally and intellectually under the watchful and supportive eyes of my teachers and mentors alike. UPES provided me with an enriching academic experience balanced with the enjoyment of college festivals. I have come to hold my fellow classmates and my teachers in high esteem and would always be grateful for their guidance, encouragement and belief in me.”
M.Tech Student, UPES
Ayushi has passionately pursued M. Tech in Artificial intelligence (AI). She interned with L&T, Mumbai, which proved to be a rewarding experience for her as it vastly expanded her horizons of learning. For an assignment, she completed some brilliant project work on Brain Tumor Classification and Visualization using heat maps under the guidance of Dr. Deepshikha Bhargava.
For her alma mater, Ayushi remarks, “Journey with UPES has been great. Faculty here is well versed with concepts of AI, Computer Vision, Ml and NLP, and are welcoming in nature. The campus is well equipped with all the necessary resources such as GPU embedded computer Labs. The curriculum includes insightful exposure through projects and internships. My overall experience has been great here.”
M.Tech (CS), UPES
Anjali Mishra is an alumnus of UPES, M. Tech (Computer Science). A brilliant student, she brought prestige to our name by penning 1 SCI publication, 2 Scopus publications, 1 Patent and Dataset capture for music impact using EEG signals. Her academic specialization lies in Artificial Intelligence. She has proactively worked on the implications of Machine Learning, Data Analytics and Signal Processing, in the fields of healthcare and medicine, under the mentorship of able research scholars.
In a special note for her alma mater, she remarks, “UPES provides a great platform to students for career building. Working in such a wonderful environment filled me on with zeal and passion about the research field. Furthermore, UPES provided me with an opportunity to go to France for my internship in the last semester which was a wonderful experience in terms of academics as well as personal enhancement. I am immensely thankful to UPES for providing me with a life-altering experience and great learning environment.
Co-founder, Venido Cab Services
Tannu Priya is a UPES student, currently studying B.Tech (CSE) with specialization in Business Analytics and Optimization (BOA), class of 2017-2021. With her graduation still a year away, she has already launched her own venture and is making us proud. She showcased young and energetic entrepreneurial skills from the very beginning. Her team was selected in the Final round of start-up boot –camp in Uttarakhand and also in the Smart India Hackathon 2020.
Her start-up, Venido Cabs Service is a real-time travel technology cab service which uses IoT based security solution, both for its customers and drivers. Currently, they are operational in Uttrakhand with cabs available 24×7 in Dehradun.
ML Engineer, L&T
An alumna of UPES, Karishma was recently awarded as the ‘Star of the Month’ by her employer, L&T. With an M.Tech in Artificial intelligence, she credits the industry-ready education at UPES, the highly qualified and friendly faculty, and her perseverance for this success. Karishma was a rank holder of her batch and was initially chosen for a year-long internship at L&T Technology Services after completing her 1st year of masters. Her insights into AI & her ambitious spirit got her recruited and also helped establish her as a budding AI & ML engineer in a newly formed team at L&T.
Founder, Books at Sale
A first-year MBA-Business Analytics student, Apoorva Chanana, embodies the true spirit of Shakti! A National Level Painter and NSS Volunteer, she believes in education as a tool to help others progress in life. An entrepreneur at heart, she started a bookstore on Instagram named ‘Books at Sale’ and uses a part of its revenue to buy books and essential stationery items for the underprivileged sections of our society. She also manages her a YouTube channel – “Learn Excel” where she shared Excel tutorial videos in Hindi and English so that people who are willing to learn can get access to it for free. When asked about the motivation behind her efforts, she remarks: Since childhood, I have been very fascinated by the idea of being independent and making an impact on people’s life. My experience with the NGO made me realise the some children are not fortunate enough to even buy books, yet alone afford a proper education. I strongly believe in “Padega India tabhi toh batega India” and that keeps me going.
Junior Research Consultant, National Human Rights Commission
A silver medallist of her batch (2012-18), Rachiyta Jain pursued her B.Tech. (Hons.) Computer Science and Engineering with LL.B. in Cyber Law from UPES. She was conferred with the ‘Mahila Shiksha Suraksha’ award by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2015, along with several other recognitions for spreading awareness about cybercrime.
In a special note of acknowledgment for her alma mater, she remarks, “I am extremely thankful to UPES for offering industry-aligned courses that stand out from the ordinary. The institution provides an atmosphere for the overall development of an individual. My faculties have constantly supported me in all the ventures I undertook, both during and after college. I cannot thank the entire UPES community enough for providing me with the resources and infrastructure that helped in shaping my dreams and introducing me to the best classmates, guides and mentors. I have seen the University grow exponentially – new blocks came up, the School of Design opened, law and management shifted to the Kandoli campus and what not. It was like the two of us grew together. UPES is the home I left behind, always longing to return to. I am certain that even a decade later, the beautiful drive to the college would bring back the same nostalgia bitten smile and I will find myself silently thanking my parents for sending me to UPES.”
Director, Rcube Healthcare Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Ms. Rashika graduated in BBA Aviation Operation programme (2013-2016) from UPES. During this course, she says, she was introduced to concepts such as management and leadership, business communication, corporate social responsibility, financial management, organisational behaviour and many others which helped in her understanding of managing a business with a handful of employees. “These courses also enhanced my skills of communicating, decision making and team management,” she adds.
“I firmly believe that theoretical knowledge is incomplete until there is a real-life application. The subjects which we were taught in the programme helped me to apply all those learnings in my life, personally as well as professionally. There were several workshops and projects, such as dissertation and community service, that taught me valuable lessons in team management and collaboration,” Rashika remarks.
Sharing about her experience at UPES, she says, “The education system at UPES works like a well-oiled machine. It helped me in getting admission in one of the renowned universities in London for my Masters, post which I interned in Singapore for one year. This global exposure gave me a whole new perspective of the world around me. The faculty, seniors and career services team at UPES were also extremely supportive at every step of my life.”
First Officer, Interglobe Aviation Limited (Indigo)
Ms. Surabhi Sharma is an alumna of UPES, B.Tech Aerospace (Avionics) class of 2011-2015. Becoming the first commercial pilot from her hometown, Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan, Surabhi has made not only her family, but also the entire UPES community proud of her achievement. She has been working as First Officer at Interglobe Aviation Limited (Indigo) since January 2018 and has flown over 1700 hours till now, including domestic and international flights.
Surabhi enrolled for the undergraduate programme under the Department of Aerospace in the year 2011. “It was a part of my plan,” she explains, “to pursue this degree at UPES. It gave me an insight into the machine I was going to operate. My understanding of the aircraft improved and it also helped me pass the necessary examination with ease.” She wrote the entrance examination in her final year at UPES, and with appropriate guidance and mentoring from the teachers at UPES, she cracked it in the very first attempt.
When asked about the role played by her alma mater, she says “Words cannot express my gratitude towards UPES. I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without my college and for that I owe a huge ‘thank you’ to all my teachers and friends, mentors and guides who helped me through the process. Because of the environment at UPES, I got the chance to spread my wings and become the best version of myself. I have made life-long mentors here who I know will be there for me at any point in life”
Founder, Empeeps
Ms. Shivangi Jain (B.Tech ADE 2010-2014) was awarded the Nari Shakti Award on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2020. The award acknowledges her outstanding contribution in the field of entrepreneurship with her innovative startup – Empeeps.
When asked about her journey at UPES, she says: “UPES provides several platforms that let you explore your creativity and interests. Learning here nurtures one’s academic skills as well as life skills. It gave me the exposure to stand out of the crowd, and the courage to do so gracefully. These were opportunities to interact and communicate with people from all over the country. Four years at the university taught me so much about life, culture, ethnicity, and made me confident, which then became my driving force to do something of my own”
Professor and Head, Department of Systemics, School of Computer Science, UPES
Under the aegis of Uttarakhand State Law Commission and Uttarakhand Human Rights Protection Center, 25 women from Uttarakhand were felicitated for their immense contribution in various fields on International Women’s Day 2020. Our faculty, Dr. Neelu Jyoti Ahuja, was awarded the Second Himalayan Nari Shakti Samman-2020.
Dr. Neelu Jyothi Ahuja is a Professor and Head-Department of Systemics, at School of Computer Science at UPES. Apart from academic teaching at the university level (both at post-graduate and under-graduate levels), she is an active researcher as well. Dr. Ahuja has successfully delivered half-a-dozen government-sponsored projects worth INR 2 crore under various domains. In the capacity of a member of the core group, she attended the Plan Meeting on improving access to Priority Assistive Products and Technology, 2017, at Sri Lanka Room, WHO – SEARO (South East Asia Regional Office), IP Estate, New Delhi. She was also a part of the Consultation Meeting for Improving Access to Assistive Products and Technology for Persons with Disabilities and Elders held at WHO SEARO Headquarters, New Delhi, India, in 2016.
When asked about her winning attitude, she says: “I have always been a disciplined, academically-inclined individual; a firm believer in continually upskilling and contributing to generating new knowledge through research interventions. Being extremely passionate about my goals, I have chosen a career to contribute to nation-building. An avid researcher and academician, I believe in sharing and spreading knowledge and supporting students towards their growth and accomplishments.”
Her commitment and conviction inspires us all and we wish her all the ‘Shakti’ for her future endeavors.
Prof. (Dr.) Deepshikha Bhargava
Prof. Deepshikha Bhargava is professor & HoD (Virtualization) at School of Computer Science, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun. She has rich experience of more than two decades as an academician with reputed universities of India including UPES, Amity University Jaipur, ICFAI; to name a few. Her research area includes soft computing, Bio-inspired computation and software agents.
A published author, she shares her journey of writing a book and realising her dream.
“It was a tremendous feeling, when my first book “E-Banking and Security Transactions” got published in 2005. At present with its third edition is circulation, this book is included as text book in syllabus of BCA in Ajmer University, University of Jodhpur, University of Kota, and University of Udaipur. I authored another book titled “Computer Fundamentals”, and another titled “E-Commerce”, which were widely appreciated and included in UG courses.
Every academician dream to work with an international acclaimed publisher like Springer & so I was. It came true when I recently edited a book titled “Pervasive Computing: A Networking Perspective and Future Directions”, in 2019, which was published by Springer Nature, Singapore Pvt. Ltd. Springer Nature, Singapore again invited me to author another upcoming book titled “Smart Health Systems”. Along with this, another book titled “System Analysis & Design”, with BPB Publishers, New Delhi is under publication.
After authoring different technical books, now I am very excited to work on my dream book projects related to different societal issues like Spirituality at workplace and Work-Life Balance for Working Women in India, to name a few.
This is just a start of my journey as an author……. Miles to go.”
UPES Student, School of Law
In August 2017, my journey at UPES MUN Club commenced from being an Organizing Committee Member. From appearing in the interview to meeting the selection criteria, I went through the entire rigmarole. Striving very hard and actively participating in my first year, further gave me an opportunity to serve as the School Ambassador for the School of Law in my second year itself. Faculty coordinators and presiding President of the Club gave me this wonderful opportunity in the second year of my college. as it is said, the higher you rise, higher are the challenges you face, both personally and professionally. However, dealing with the most difficult situations with a sense of calm and tranquility is what makes a person a better leader. Being in law school, opportunities never cease to exist. Participating in the Intra Moot Court Competitions has given me an opportunity to visit some prestigious external colleges, further enhancing my mooting and research skills. My teammates and I also managed to grab the first position in the Intra Mediation Competition, 2019 held in School of Law, UPES, and because of this we even got a chance to represent our college in NLIU Bhopal. My experience at UPES has so far been great, and I am looking forward to experiencing even bigger highs in the days ahead at the university.
UPES Student, B.tech Aerospace – Avionics
I represented India and the global youth fraternity at the very prestigious ‘UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSEMBLY’ held at UN Headquarters, New York City from Aug 10-13’ 2018, which witnessed changemakers and youth delegations from over 130 countries. I spoke about three sustainable development goals (SDG’s)- Quality Education, Health & Well-Being, Clean & Affordable Energy. I gave a voice to the opinion of the youth in important dialogues and decision-making processes as well as contributed solutions to challenges that affect us all. Monika also joined the UN Officials in the permanent mission of their member nation of Switzerland to the UN.
UPES Student, MBA
I am delighted to share my journey of the past three semesters as a student of MBA Aviation at the UPES campus, ensconced in verdant green surroundings. During this 1st semester, I was chosen as class representative and was also given an opportunity to work with Ernst and Young, as a researcher. In the 2nd semester, we were informed about our industry visit to Mumbai International Airport, i.e., MIAL. We prepared ourselves with prospective expansion plans and IT-driven solutions for the MIAL airport. I was selected, on merit, to work with Airports Authority of India, New Delhi, as an intern. My next internship was with Corporate Planning and Management Services Department at AAI. The internship ended with a project which was so much praised by the faculty that it has now become a pipeline project for publication in renowned journals. Before we knew it, it was time for placements, probably the most crucial time in the life of a student. I was offered a job with Infosys Consultancy. Some of my classmates got selected by Adani Airports in Jaipur and Lucknow, and some were snapped up by Bengaluru Airport, i.e., BIAL. My journey so far has been beautiful. I have been focussed on enhancing existing skills and developing new ones.
UPES Student, MBA
In June 2018, the journey of my MBA at UPES started. The experience at the campus over the last few months has been such that it has given me a well-rounded perspective of my life goals. Starting with my first internship, I was honoured to be a part of the Organising Committee of EY which was the knowledge partner for the first Uttarakhand Investors Summit in 2018. My second Internship was purely related to my domain, i.e., Logistics and Supply Chain Management which was at Parle Products Pvt Ltd for a duration of 15 days wherein I learned about working of distribution centres and warehouses. The opportunity to provide my inputs on modern forecasting techniques, which were later on adopted in the working of Bizongo operations, gave my confidence a real boost and made me realise my capabilities. I am currently in my last semester of MBA and I shall be joining Nestle from June 2020. Though the journey has just started and there is a lot to achieve, the spirit of learning, discipline, passion to achieve, aiming high, leading a team, organising events and conferences, cracking interviews, getting placed with a decent package, and of course, writing my first blog, are my key takeaways from my alma mater.
Dean, School of Business
Dr. Githa S Heggde, Dean, School of Business, Has over 29 years of teaching, consultancy and industrial experience. She is a part of the team at “Global colloquium on participant centered learning” at Harvard Business School, Boston and worked on teaching with case studies and developing curriculum for management courses. Participated at the follow on sessions at Shanghai.
Presented papers at Academy on International Business at Boston, University of Wollongong, Dubai, EMBRI, Italy and several conferences in the areas of Marketing, Sales and Distribution. Awarded best research papers at the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), conventions. Published several articles on Marketing, supply chain, sales and Distribution in international and national journals.
Dr. Heggde is regularly invited by prestigious international Universities for lectures and discussions on pursuing collaborative research. Conducted several training programs for senior marketing and sales executives at Airtel, ITC, Infosys, Murugappa group, Pricol, HDFC, Infosys, EY, Biocon. Engaged in consultancy and research with companies such as Logitech, USA, iWatt, USA, Reliance, India, adaptive marketing. She has been nominated and attended a program on Wealth Management at Bangkok, Authored books on Applied Marketing and several case studies. Githa is also a member of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, was a member at Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka, chairperson, Coimbatore chapter FICCI ladies organization during 2004-2006.
Dean, School of Design
Manisha Mohan, Dean, School of Design, was Chief – Design and Innovation at Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), Mumbai – and in this capacity, she and her team tracked design trends, did research and projects in emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. She and her team were also responsible for doing solutions, design benchmarking and driving Design Thinking in the organization. She has been an assessor and team leader under the Tata Business Excellence Model which is modeled around the Malcom Baldrige excellence framework.
Manisha also headed the education division of TIS in the past in which capacity she looked at both business development and design of learning content for children worldwide, including children with learning disability. Over the years, Manisha has worked on learning games, simulations, and animations for people across verticals and countries that have won several awards for design. She is on the board of studies of MITD and Jagran Lakecity University. She is also the Chairperson for Applied/Serious Games SIG, NASSCOM.
Senior Business Analyst, AirAsia
“Education at UPES is not restricted to books”
I am a graduate of the MBA (Aviation) Programme (2014-2016). UPES honed my skills in decision-making, communication, team management, and provided me with world-class education through theory, case studies, guest lectures, and internships. At UPES, experiential learning is favoured over textbooks.
Risk management and Compliance – Manager, Ikea
“Best part of my life was spent in the campus”
I studied Aviation Management at UPES because my father is an ex-Indian Air Force officer. My education at UPES not only trained me in my domain, but also instilled in me confidence, strengthened my public speaking skills, and exposed me to industry standards. As India progresses towards equality, I hope that my work is able to contribute to the story of the women who came before us and pushed the envelope that enabled us to get this opportunity.
Lead Petroleum Engineer, Vedanta
“I feel a lot needs to be done to reach the gender parity goals. The major first step required is changing behaviour and attitude”
As a graduate of B.Tech. (Applied Petroleum Engineering) at UPES, I learnt the practical and logistical aspects of the oil industry through interactive and experiential methods like industry tours, trainings, and internships. Furthermore, it polished my soft skills, and aided my overall development and professional growth.
Application Developer, VMware
“In many cases women have proven themselves to be better than men at leading and managing businesses”
I am a graduate of the B.Tech Computer Science (Specialization in Cloud Computing and Virtualization) programme (2015-2019). At UPES, through my faculty and colleagues, I was able to keep up with the industry, learn new skills, and groom myself for the world outside the campus. The faculty has always been there for me and helped strengthen my concepts.
UX Designer, Larsen and Toubro
“My dream is to build a utopian society where everyone can work and have equal opportunities irrespective of their gender”
I am a graduate of the B.Des (Product Design) programme (2015-2019). I decided to pursue Product Design as my career option as it challenges me to mix form and function to create something useful for people. At UPES, I had the good fortune of exchanging ideas and driving them to completion with my faculty and colleagues through inclusive discussions. The comprehensive modules helped me get a complete understanding of my career and sector.